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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Buying a new home for your family

kids going back to school is stressful enough with all the time spent getting them ready buying clothes and supplies so
if you have been hunting for a new home and found the right one please get a good home inspection to at least have peace of
mind that their are no major issues effecting their safety.

When inspecting here in the Chicago area my promise is to
always be detailed and thorough by checking as many systems and componants as I can with details in the report on items that
may help you with your childrens safety.Most of the time during the home inspection at some point I may ask if you have kids
and am not simply being nosey but will focus more report language that direction if needed.

Home inspectionReports are
for busted and broken items effecting value of the house but also it is important to me that my comments bear in mind your
individual needs in regard to safety.

As a Home Inspector ,I have many systems and components which need to be examined for the
Home Inspection Report, but the most important may be the roof , as water penetration can cause the most damage.

The price of the home inspection is worth it, if inspecting the roof is the only thing the
home inspector does.

A good home inspector is the wisest investment after the purchase itself
,if he finds potential leaks and damage ,before they become major problems.

The seller
may basically be unaware there is any problem with the roof.

More often it just goes unknown
till there are signs of it inside the living space , such as wall bubbling, stains,peeling wall paper or water dripping onto
clothes and furniture.

By then you are looking at major repairs.

The
roof could be leaking for years with no visual signs apparent in the house and no damage might be seen in till there is hundreds
or maybe thousands of dollars in damage.

The leak could be causing rotted sheathing ,rafters,joists
,dry rot, fungus, insulation damaged etc,inside the walls ,before you know what happened .By then it would be in an advanced
stage of deterioration.

A good home inspector will check the gutters, down spouts,and the
attic as part of the home inspection.

As buyer ,it would be a good idea to find out from
the seller if possible the date of install,warranty, and any leak history.

Not all sellers
will have the information for you , but it is still a good idea to ask.

After the roof inspection,
your home inspector (meaning myself ) may just be getting started,so hopefully this gives you a little in site into why I
will be climbing the roof during your home inspection.

This is important due to the fact , people want to buy places with a view, and one
of the best ways to see that view is by having large windows.

Many of the Homes and
Condo's I inspect have huge windows, which if not checked for proper safety could prove to be a danger to those
inside.

There is a certain national safety standard
Chicago Home Inspectors go by when examining a property, which helps insure protection of people and property.In
certain locations and safety glass must meet CPSC guidelines.

Tempered or Safety glass (interchangable) is made by rapidly cooling the outside layers of glass which causes it to harden
to around four times the strength of common glass.

To find out if it is safety glass ,look for a small label near one of the lower corners.

It will look something like this.....

A simple rule of thumb as to where you should find safety glass is if
it is 18 inches or lower to the ground , has at least 9 sq feet in size ,and extends to at least 36” above floor.

Doors are another story and all storm doors along with
glass panels in doors must comply.

If a 3 inch diameter sphere can pass through them,then
they need to be safety glass.

Bathrooms are another
area of concern as shower and tub encloses must of course all be safety glass.

Imagine slipping
and going through sharp pieces of glass.

Windows that start 60 inches or less above the plumbing
drain must also be safety glass.

This is not a complete guide , but should help determine
just how safe you and your family are when it comes to Glass and Protection of People and Propery

During any Home
,Condo , or Building Inspection one of the things a good inspector looks for is how safe the dwelling is in regard
to the glass which surrounds us.

Forms of glass have been around since the dawn of time through accidental
mixing in nature, however the ancient Romans back around 3,000 - 2,000 BC are the ones credited with actually making the substance
intentionally.

Today it is everywhere, allowing us to bring healthy and uplifting light into our lives.

There are certain locations around Home and Workplace which require special glass which can protect us in case of accidental
falls.

All of us
fear the thought of going through a glass pane and having it cut us, which can result in injury or death.

When buying any property, safety concerns should always be your number one priority.

My next post will explain details of where you need certain
types of glass or protection, and when exceptions are allowed, along with the reasons why.

Just a helpful reminder as the Real Estate buying season gets into full swing.Many of you are taking a close look at
buying foreclosures , and I have found a few obstacles that may not be there otherwise.Foreclosure properties often
have the present owners no longer living there as the Bank or mortgage holder has already taken the Home or Condo.Often
these businesses will try and cut expenses by turning of the utilities .In one recent case I had the water shut off
and as with all inspectors I am not allowed to turn it back on.This has to much liability as the pipes can burst and
we would end up paying for it.I had one bold client turn it on for me to check and I did the inspection , but heres
the catch.The appraiser was out there before me and reported no running water.This may be hard to believe but
his Loan got held up due to the fact the appraisers report said there was no running water.The lender would not give him the
loan on a property with no running water.So please make sure to have your Agent or whom ever is your Representative
tell the mortgage holder they need to have utilities turned on , not just for me , but for the purchase to go through in some
cases.Lucky he was able to show them my report later , but had a big holdup.The last thing you need is some crazy
little hitch stopping you from what you wish for.BOB